Hi all.
I've made cakes via box mixes before but I'm just wondering if a box mix will do for a birthday cake for my kids? I want to make MMF and use buttercream with some basic decorations. Are box mixes too crumbly for this sort of thing?
Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, some members use straight cake mix, others use cake mix and add-ins, while others only scratch bake. Whatever you choose, if it works for you, it's all good!

However, most straight cake mixes don't yield a lot a batter... To increase the batter yield and enhance the flavor, you might want to try some of the doctored cake mix recipes in the following thread:

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-605188-.html

Above super thread also has popular CC recipes for crusting American b/c's, fondant and so much more!

More doctored cake mix recipes:

http://cakecentral.com/recipes/enhanced-cake-mix/

http://cakecentral.com/recipes/enhanced-mix-recipe/

http://cakecentral.com/recipes/enhanced-cake-formula/

http://cakecentral.com/recipes/super-enhanced-cake-formula/

HTH

Thanks so much! Every bit of advice helps.
I've made boxed mixes before and always find them crumbly. I attempted our daughters birthday cake last year and because it was so crumbly it was awful. Since both our children (our daughter will be 4 and our son will be 1) have the same birthday we're doing their party the same day so it's alot of work and I would really like for them to turn out.

Perhaps it is the mix you are using. Is it that way with all of them for you?
I always sift the cake mix first...very important. Also I freeze my cake layers and I think that has something to do with the texture improvement as well.
Let your cakes cool after baking and then wrap them tightly in Saran Wrap and freeze. I usually bake on Tuesday for weekend cakes. The bakery I worked for did that and they turn out moist and delicious without being crumbly.

I do a combination of scratch baking and box mixes. When I do box mixes I like to replace the water with milk and the oil with butter. Makes the cake more dense, perfect for carving, stacking, etc. Good luck!!

i'm new as well and my aunt who decorates cake told me if i use box mix to add one pack of jello pudding of which ever flavor and one extra egg. this makes it thicker like pound cakes. it really works.

thanks for the replies everyone! they're party is in three weeks so I guess I better get testing some recipes before then so I don't have a disaster come party time.

...........wondering if a box mix will do for a birthday cake for my kids?...........

WHY NOT?? Many of us have built great businesses using mixes. I have never had one be crumbly!
That sounds like you are not adding enough liquid or using an off brand of mix. I've been a die-hard Betty Crocker fan but they have recently changed their mix (reduced the amount) so things are a bit different now
Depending onn the size of the cake you need try my *original* WASC recipe: http://cakecentral.com/recipes/the-original-wasc-cake-recipe/
If you follow that recipe (read through the entier post for helpful hints) you certainly will NOT have a crumbly cake!